By James McManus

0

Feb 6, 2013 21:03:00

The 48-year-old Scot enjoyed a two-and-a-half-year spell in charge at the City Ground between 2008 and 2011 and he remains the overwhelming favourite to succeed Alex McLeish

Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston has revealed that the club approached Billy Davies over the vacant manager's position at the club, but that talks have come to an end amid reported interest in him from Nottingham Forest.

The Seasiders are searching for their third manager of the campaign after Ian Holloway left in early November to take over Crystal Palace while Michael Appleton joined Blackburn after less than two months in charge.

With the club currently sat 15th in the Championship, just six points ahead of the drop zone, Oyston has revealed that while current Bristol City manager Sean O'Driscoll has already turned them down, Davies has decided to 'follow another opportunity', thought to be the vacant post at Forest after Alex McLeish left the club earlier in the week.

"I would like to place on record that the club met and discussed the manager's position with Billy Davies on Monday evening," Oyston said in a statement on the club's official website.

"Contrary to speculation, I can confirm that the meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to speak again on Tuesday.

"I spoke with Billy on two occasions yesterday and he has decided to follow another opportunity, which is a decision we fully appreciate and understand.

"It has been well documented that we have approached a number of people regarding our managerial vacancy, in order to conduct preliminary discussions and ascertain interest from either party.

"We will continue with this process and we will continue to do so in the correct manner.

"However, we have only offered the position to one person and, unfortunately, that person decided to accept a position at Bristol City."

McLeish left the City Ground after just 40 days in charge, citing differences over the club's transfer strategy during the January transfer window as cause for his early departure, with Davies unemployed since getting sacked by Forest back in June 2011.